Microsoft to close Africa development centre in Nigeria
Microsoft is closing down its Africa Development Centre in Nigeria, according to a spokesperson on Wednesday.
This is expected to lead to job losses, observers said.
The centre, based in the commercial capital Lagos was opened in 2022 as part of Microsoft’s push to deliver high-end engineering and innovation solutions for the company.
The company said it would, however, continue to operate in Nigeria, continuing to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas.
“Microsoft has decided to close the Africa Development Centre in Nigeria, and as a result some of our employees based in Nigeria will be impacted,” the Microsoft spokesperson said.
“Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business.”
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It was not immediately clear how many people would be impacted.
In December 2022, Microsoft President Brad Smith said Africa represented a burgeoning talent pool in contrast to declining population growth elsewhere.
Microsoft at that time had more than 200 engineers in Lagos and more than 500 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The closure comes as a setback for Microsoft’s efforts to tap into Nigeria’s burgeoning talent pool and expand its footprint in Africa.
Microsoft’s decision to shut down the Africa Development Centre adds to Nigeria’s broader economic challenges, including a persistent currency crisis, dollar shortages, and high inflation. These factors have impacted business growth and diminished consumer purchasing power, prompting companies like Procter & Gamble, GSK, and Bayer to overhaul their African strategies.
